Chris Crader, the owner of Harvest Pizzeria, is giving back to the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI) this week by donating a portion of his restaurant’s proceeds to the nonprofit organization. He credits ECDI with helping him open his first restaurant in 2012 and is grateful for their support.
ECDI, based in Columbus, is the largest Small Business Administration microlender in the nation. As part of Small Business Week, Crader is giving back to the agency that helped him by donating some of his restaurant’s income from takeout pizza sales to ECDI. The institute has provided over $177 million in loans since its inception in 2004 and has assisted more than 32,000 entrepreneurs through its educational programs.
When Crader and his wife were unable to secure loans from commercial banks for Harvest Pizzeria, they turned to ECDI for help. With the institute’s support, they received a $75,000 loan through federal programs aimed at helping women and U.S. military veterans, as well as valuable business-coaching services. Today, Harvest Pizzeria has multiple locations in Bexley, the Brewery District, Clintonville, Dublin, and Granville.
Crader’s decision to give back to ECDI during Small Business Week is a way for him to support the agency in assisting other entrepreneurs like himself who may need financial assistance and guidance to achieve their business goals.